2 killed in separate incidents, massive protests erupt
Source: The Sangai Express
Thoubal, March 02 2020:
A teenager and a 50 year old man have been killed in Thoubal district in two separate incidents of violent attacks during the last 24 years.
The killings sparked massive protests at different places and roads were blocked.
The first incident happened at Ipukom which is located between Salungpham and Heirok under Heirok police station at around 8.30 pm yesterday.
There one Sapam Shital (19) s/o Sapam Khomdon of Salungpham Mayai Leikai was found dead at Ipukom.
It looked like Shital was left there to die after he was brutally assaulted.
The second incident happened at Shikhong under Nongpok Sekmai police station at around 6.30 am today.
One Maibam Shantikumar (35) s/o M Ibomcha of Hijam Khunou killed 50 year old Md Mangi s/o Md Wahe of Shikhong Muslim hacking him on the neck as the latter went to Hijam Khunou to cut down bamboos.
Even as Md Mangi was immediately rushed to Nongpok Sekmai PHC, doctors declared him brought dead.
Notably, Shikhong Muslim and Hijam Khunou are neighbouring villages.
On the other hand, aggrieved by the killing of the teenager, a large number of people blocked Salungpham road and staged a protest demonstration.
They demanded immediate identification and booking of the killers.
Later, an emergency public meeting was held and a body christened JAC Against the Brutal Killing of Sapam Shital Singh was constituted.
Under the aegis of the JAC, a protest demonstration was staged at Salungpham Mayai Leikai this afternoon.
JAC convenor Ng Narayan Singh said that Sapam Shital went for an outing on his motorcycle (Pulsar 150) at around 4 pm yesterday.
At around 8.30 pm, it was said that Shital was lying wounded near Ipukom.
Foot marks were seen on Shital's chest as well as the fuel tank of his motorcycle.
Moreover, his nose was also found bleeding, Narayan said.
Demanding arrest of all the killers by March 5, the JAC convenor maintained that the corpse of Shital would not be claimed until the facts and circumstances leading to the death of Shital are established.
The protesters used placards which read as "Justice for Shital", "We want justice", "Bring out the killers" etc.
The corpse was deposited at JNIMS morgue yesterday itself.
Meanwhile, Maibam Shantikumar who hacked Md Mangi to death has been arrested by police.
Infuriated by the killing, a large number of people tried to vandalise the house of Shantikumar.
As a police team from Nongpok Sekmai station stopped the mob from doing any unlawful act, a tense stand-off ensued between the two sides.
The situation was brought under control only after the arrival of police reinforcement and tear gas bombs had to be fired.
Three persons sustained injuries in the stand-off and they were taken to Nongpok Sekmai PHC.
The injured victims have been identified as Md Qutub Ali (55) of Shikhong Khunou, Md Kamaruddin (42) of Shikhong Muslim and Md Tahir Ali (55) of Shikhong Muslim.
As the injuries of Md Qutub Ali were more serious, he was later taken to Thoubal district hospital.
Later a public meeting was held today with representatives of many CSOs at Shikhong Muslim community hall.
Apart from constituting a joint action committee named JAC Against the Brutal Killing of Md Mangi, Shikhong Khunou, several resolutions were adopted at the meeting.
The resolutions say that those involved in the killing should be awarded befitting punishment within 24 hours and all the police personnel involved in inflicting injuries to protesters by firing tear gas shells should be suspended within 24 hours.
The Government should bear full responsibility for treatment of all the injured victims and in case these resolutions are not fulfilled within 24 hours, intense modes of agitation would be launched in association with CSOs, reads the last resolution.
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